Table Covering Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A table covering apparatus comprises a main sheet portion fully spanning the table top of the table and an annular securing member of elastic material arranged to be receive the base of the table therethrough. The annular securing member is joined to the main sheet portion along at least two opposing sides of the main sheet portion. A skirt portion formed integrally with the main portion extends outward from the main sheet portion beyond connection of the annular securing member to the main sheet portion to conceal the annular securing member.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/969,327 filed Aug. 31, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for covering a table, forexample a tablecloth and the like, and more particularly relates to atable covering apparatus arranged to be readily and removably secured toa table top of the table using an elastic member.

BACKGROUND

Table coverings are known to be desirable for protecting a table top andfor decorating a table. It is often desirable to secure the tablecovering to the table to prevent accidental pulling of the covering fromthe table by children or pets and the like and to prevent the coveringfrom being displaced from the table by gusts of wind and the like.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,681 belonging to Foster and U.S. Pat. No. 1,684,173belonging to Diamond et al. disclose examples of table coverings whichcan be secured to the table top, however in each instance the edge ofthe table covering itself is secured beneath the table resulting in anunattractive appearance in which the fastening mechanism and the base ofthe table remain fully exposed. Diamond in particular includes multipleindependent fasteners which are difficult and awkward to assemblebeneath the table.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,363 belonging to Jones discloses a table covering inwhich a plurality of straps are provided below the table covering forsecurement about the table top of the table. Fastening of the tablecovering to the table involves awkward manipulation of a plurality ofindependent fasteners which require crawling under the table to accessso as to result in an awkward and undesirable fastening operation eachtime the table covering is to be attached and removed from the table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatusfor covering a table having a table top and a base arranged to supportthe table top thereon, the apparatus comprising:

-   -   a main sheet portion arranged for spanning the table top of the        table;    -   an annular securing member arranged for securement about the        base of the table below the table top;    -   a connecting portion connecting the annular securing member to a        periphery of the main sheet portion; and    -   a skirt portion extending outward from a periphery of the main        sheet portion beyond the connecting portion.

By providing a combination of an annular securing member and a skirtportion on the table covering, the table covering can be quickly andeasily secured about the periphery of the table top using the annularsecuring member without any awkward manipulation being required beneaththe table while the annular securing member is fully concealed by theskirt portion. By arranging the annular securing member to comprise anelastic material in particular, the table covering apparatus can be mostquickly readily attached and removed from the table top while remainingstable and secure in its attached position.

Preferably the annular securing member is resilient and compriseselastic material.

The connecting portion may join the annular securing member and the mainsheet portion at a plurality of positions spaced about the circumferencethereof or fully about the circumference thereof.

The connecting portion may comprise a common flexible sheeted memberincluding a central portion joined to the main sheet portion and aperipheral portion supporting the annular securing member thereon.

The connecting portion may be bonded to the main sheet portion or joinedto the main sheet portion by stitching, and the like.

The skirt portion extends outward from the main sheet portion beyond theconnecting portion a distance which is greater than a distance between aperipheral edge about the central opening in the annular securing memberand the main sheet portion.

Preferably the annular securing member comprises an elastic memberarranged to be extended over the table top and arranged to be biasedinto a retaining position having a circumference which is less than acircumference of the table top.

The main sheet portion and the skirt portion are preferably formedintegrally with one another of a continuous flexible sheeted material.

The material may be suitable for either indoor or outdoor use or both.For outdoor use, the material may be weather resistant.

The annular securing member may comprise a sheet of resilient andelastic material. In this instance, the connecting portion and theannular securing member may be integrally formed of like material.

When the main sheet portion is elongate in a longitudinal direction, theannular securing member is preferably joined to the main sheet portionalong two opposing sides of the main sheet portion which extend in thelongitudinal direction.

There may be provided an opening between the main sheet and the annularsecuring member at each end of the main sheet portion between the twoopposing sides thereof in which the openings are arranged to receiveopposing ends the table top therethrough.

When the annular securing member comprises a sheet having a centralopening therein which is arranged to receive the base of the tabletherethrough, the central opening is preferably elongate in the commonlongitudinal direction of the main sheet portion and the table.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is providedan apparatus for covering a table having a table top and a base arrangedto support the table top thereon, the apparatus comprising:

-   -   a main sheet portion arranged for spanning the table top of the        table;    -   an annular securing member arranged for securement about the        base of the table below the table top;    -   the annular securing member being joined to the main sheet        portion along at least two opposing sides of the main sheet        portion; and    -   a skirt portion extending outward from a periphery of the main        sheet portion beyond connection of the annular securing member        to the main sheet portion.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provideda table covering apparatus in combination with a table having a tabletop supported on a base, the apparatus comprising:

-   -   a main sheet portion having dimensions fully spanning the table        top of the table;    -   an annular securing member comprising an elastic material having        a central opening arranged to be extended over the table top and        arranged to be biased into a retaining position in which the        central opening has a circumference which is less than a        circumference of the table top;    -   the annular securing member being joined to the main sheet        portion along at least two opposing sides of the main sheet        portion; and    -   a skirt portion extending outward from the main sheet portion        beyond connection of the annular securing member to the main        sheet portion;    -   the skirt portion being formed integrally and continuously with        the main sheet portion.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the table covering apparatus shownsupported on a table.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the apparatusgenerally along a line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus according to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a further embodiment of the tablecovering apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of the apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a further embodiment of the apparatusshown supported on a table.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a tablecovering apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral 10. Theapparatus 10 is particularly suited for use with a table 12 of the typehaving a large flat top 14 which is supported spaced above the ground bya suitable base, for example comprising a plurality of upright legs 16at spaced positions from one another or a pedestal. While variousembodiments are described and illustrated herein, the features in commonwith all of the various illustrated embodiments will first be described.

The apparatus 10 includes a main sheet portion 20 having suitabledimensions for fully spanning the top 14 of the table 12.

A skirt portion 22 is joined with the main sheet portion 20 about a fullperiphery 24 of the main sheet portion. The skirt portion 22 isintegrally and continuously formed with the main sheet portion 20 from asingle flat flexible common sheeted material. The material comprises asuitable material for either indoor use or outdoor use, for example amaterial comprising vinyl, or which is machine washable, or which isweather resistant.

The skirt portion 22 is arranged to depend downwardly from the periphery24 of the main sheet portion on all sides of the table when the mainsheet portion 20 spans the top of the table so that the skirt portion 22serves to at least partially conceal the base of the table.

An annular securing member 26 is provided for securement below the tabletop 14 to an underside of the edge of the table top when the main sheetportion 20 spans the top of the table. The annular securing member 26comprises an endless loop which is operable so as to be biased from anextended position in which a central opening 27 in the annular securingmember is arranged to fit overtop of the table top to a retainingposition in which the circumference of the central opening in theannular securing member 26 is biased to be less than the circumferenceof the table top 14 for being retained beneath the peripheral edge ofthe table top.

A connecting portion 28 is joined between the annular securing member 26and the main sheet portion 20. The connecting portion 28 is joined tothe main sheet portion at least partway about a periphery of the mainsheet portion such that the skirt portion 22 extends from the main sheetportion beyond the attachment of the connecting portion 28 thereto. Theconnecting portion 28 is also joined to the annular securing member 26at least partway about a circumference thereof.

Turning now more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, a first embodimentof the apparatus 10 will now be described in further detail. In thefirst embodiment, the connecting portion 28 comprises a single commonflexible sheet member having a central portion 30 bonded to the innerside of the main sheet portion and a peripheral portion 32 which extendsfrom a periphery of the bonded central portion 30 to the annularsecuring member 26. The central portion 30 is bonded flat against theinner side of the main sheet portion by a suitable adhesive layer 34 orby the application of heat to fuse the layers of the connecting portionand the main sheet portion together. The peripheral portion 32 comprisesa continuous sheet which fully spans between the periphery of the mainsheet portion and the annular securing member which is supported at afree end of the peripheral portion 32.

In the preferred embodiment the annular securing member comprises anelastic band which is biased from the extended position, in which themember is arranged to be extended over the table top, towards theretaining position, in which the member has a circumference which isless than the circumference of the table.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, an example of an alternative embodimentwill now be described in further detail. In this instance the annularsecuring member may comprise a drawstring which can unfastened for beingextended over the table top in the extended position and which can bemanually drawn together and tied in the retaining position with adiameter or circumference which is smaller than that of the table top.In the alternative embodiment, the connecting portion 28 may comprise aplurality of separate segments 40 located at plural positions about theperiphery of the main sheet portion and the circumference of the annularsecuring member 26. Each segment 40 comprises a flexible sheetedmaterial which is joined at an inner end to the periphery of the mainsheet portion by suitable bonding or stitching, and which extendsoutward to a free outer end forming a pocket therein which receives aportion of the annular securing member 26 slidably therethrough.

In another embodiment, the segments 40 of the previous embodiment may bejoined to form a continuous annular sheet spanning between an inner endjoined to the periphery of the main sheet portion and a free outer endsupporting the annular securing member thereon. The segments 40 or thecontinuous annular sheet may be used with either embodiment of theannular securing member, that is an annular securing member comprisingeither a drawstring or a elastic member.

A further embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6 in which the connectingportion 28 comprises a single integral sheet, as described above withregard to the first embodiment, however the central portion 30 of theconnecting portion in this instance is joined to the main sheet portion20 by suitable stitching 50. The stitching 50 can be arranged in variousdecorative patterns, for example in a plurality of rows orientedparallel and spaced apart from one another to span lateral fully acrossthe main sheet portion 20 as shown in FIG. 6.

Alternatively, the stitching may be formed about the periphery of themain sheet portion 20, or in any combination of peripheral stitching androws spanning diametrically across the main sheet portion as may bedesired. In yet further alternative arrangements, various adhesivepatterns and stitching patterns may be used alone or in combination withone another to join the connecting portion to the main sheet portion ofthe apparatus.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 through 9, an alternativeembodiment of the apparatus 10 is shown in which annular securing member26 comprises an elastic and resilient sheet of material for spanning theunder side of the table top 14 about the base which comprises at leastone leg 16, or pedestal. In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus issupported on a table which is elongate in a longitudinal direction.Accordingly the main sheet portion 20 of the apparatus 10 is similarlyshown to be elongate in the longitudinal direction for fully spanningthe table top 14.

The sheet forming the annular securing member 26 includes a centralopening 27 therein for receiving the base of the table therethrough andto define the annular nature of the securing member about the base. Thecentral opening 27 comprises a slot which is elongate in thelongitudinal direction of the main sheet portion 20 and the table uponwhich it is supported. The opening is accordingly much narrower in alateral direction oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal directionof the main sheet portion and the table. The resilient and elasticnature of the material forming the annular securing member permits theshape and dimension of the central opening to be readily varied foraccommodating various sizes and configurations of table legs forming thebase of the table 12. The material forming the annular securing membertypically comprises a fabric type material which is stretchable, forexample a spandex type material or a blend of various materials in whichat least some of the fibres are elastic in nature.

The annular securing member is arranged to be secured to the main sheetportion 20 along two opposing sides 40 of the annular member whichextend in the longitudinal direction between two opposed ends 42 of theannular member. The ends 42 are shorter in the lateral direction thanthe length of the two sides 40 in the longitudinal direction. Theannular securing member is joined along the two opposing sides 40 to twocorresponding opposing sides of the main sheet portion which also extendin the longitudinal direction. In this instance the skirt portion 22,similar to previous embodiments, extends outwardly from the main portionbeyond the connection of the annular securing member to the main sheetportion along the longitudinally extending sides thereof.

At each end 42 of the annular securing member, there is provided anopening 46 between the annular securing member and the main sheetportion spanning between the two opposing sides 40 so as to be arrangedto receive opposing ends 48 of the table top extending therethroughbeyond the annular securing member when the table top is larger incircumference than the outer peripheral edge of the annular securingmember secured to the main sheet portion.

The outer peripheral edge of the annular securing member can be securedto the main sheet portion by a connecting portion 28 similar to theprevious embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 7 through9, the connecting portion comprises an edge of the annular securingmember 26 which overlaps the main sheet portion along the opposing sidesthereof for connection by adhesive bonding or stitching and the like. Inthis instance the connecting portion 28 is integrally formed with theannular securing member of an integral sheet of common material.

In further embodiments the connecting portion may comprise a continuoussheet similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3 so as to define acentral portion 30 fully spanning the inside of the main sheet portionand a peripheral portion 32 about the central portion which joins theouter peripheral edge of the annular securing member along the twoopposing sides 40 thereof. In this instance the connecting portionsimilarly comprises an integral sheet formed of the same materialcontinuously with the annular securing member 26.

In either instance, the annular securing member according to theembodiment of FIGS. 7 through 9 is arranged to be secured below thetable top to an underside edge of the table top when the main sheetportion spans the top of the table. The peripheral edge of the annularsecuring member surrounding and defining the central opening comprisesan endless elastic loop which can be stretched from a retaining positionto an extended position. In the extended position, the circumferenceabout the central opening is resiliently increased relative to theretaining position for fitting over the top of the table top and forpositioning about the base of the table top below the underside of thetable top. Once in position, the elastic nature of the annular securingmember biases the circumference about the central opening to decreaseinto the retaining position in which the circumference is reduced to aminimum circumference extending about the base which is less than thecircumference of the table top for being retained beneath the peripheraledge of the table top.

In any of the described embodiments, use of the table covering apparatustypically involves extending the annular securing member 26 overtop ofthe top of the table in the extended position thereof for subsequentfastening to an underside of the tabletop edge when the annular securingmember 26 is in the retaining position with the main sheet portionspanning the top side of the table. The connecting portion in eachembodiment if thus arranged to extend over the edge of the tabletopbetween the annular securing member 26 therebelow and the main sheetportion spanning thereabove. The skirt portion 22 is arranged to besuspended from and thus hangs freely from the edge of the tabletop wherethe periphery of the main sheet portion is located for concealing theannular securing member, the connecting portion and a portion of thebase of the table.

The table covering apparatus will typically be made available in aplurality of sizes for accommodating different standard size tables. Forexample the main sheet portion and the connecting portion may bearranged for being suitably sized to fit a small 2-4 person round,square, oval, or rectangle table, a medium picnic or oval table, orlarge round or rectangle banquet dining tables.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein abovedescribed, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claims without department from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense.

1. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein there is provided aconnecting portion connecting the annular securing member to a peripheryof the main sheet portion.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 whereinonly the annular securing member is resilient and comprises elasticmaterial.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connectingportion joins the annular securing member and the main sheet portion ata plurality of positions spaced about the circumference thereof.
 4. Theapparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting portion joins theannular securing member and the main sheet portion fully about thecircumference thereof.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein theconnecting portion comprises a common flexible sheeted member includinga central portion joined to the main sheet portion and a peripheralportion supporting the annular securing member thereon.
 6. The apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the connecting portion is bonded to themain sheet portion.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein theconnecting portion is joined to the main sheet portion by stitching. 8.The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the skirt portion extendsoutward from the main sheet portion beyond the connecting portion adistance which is greater than a distance between a peripheral edgeabout the central opening in the annular securing member and the mainsheet portion.
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. The apparatus accordingto claim 19 wherein the main sheet portion and the skirt portion areformed of weather resistant material.
 12. (canceled)
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the connecting portion and the annularsecuring member are integrally formed of like material.
 14. Theapparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting portion joins theannular securing member to the main sheet portion along at least twoopposing sides of the main sheet portion.
 15. (canceled)
 16. (canceled)17. (canceled)
 18. (canceled)
 19. An apparatus for covering a tablehaving a table top and a base arranged to support the table top thereon,the apparatus comprising: a main sheet portion arranged for spanning thetable top of the table; an annular securing member arranged forsecurement about the base of the table below the table top; the annularsecuring member being joined to the main sheet portion along at leasttwo opposing sides of the main sheet portion; and a skirt portionextending outward from a periphery of the main sheet portion beyondconnection of the annular securing member to the main sheet portion. 20.The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the annular securing membercomprises a sheet of resilient and elastic material.
 21. The apparatusaccording to claim 19 wherein the main sheet portion is elongate in alongitudinal direction and the annular securing member is joined to themain sheet portion along two opposing sides of the main sheet portionwhich extend in the longitudinal direction.
 22. The apparatus accordingto claim 19 wherein there is provided an opening between the main sheetand the annular securing member at each end of the main sheet portionbetween the two opposing sides thereof, the openings being arranged toreceive opposing ends the table top therethrough.
 23. The apparatusaccording to claim 19 wherein the annular securing member comprises asheet having a central opening therein arranged to receive the base ofthe table therethrough, the central opening being elongate in onedirection.
 24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the mainsheet portion and the central opening in the annular securing member areelongate in a common longitudinal direction.
 25. The apparatus accordingto claim 19 wherein the skirt portion extends outward from the mainsheet portion beyond the connecting portion a distance which is greaterthan a distance between a peripheral edge about the central opening inthe annular securing member and the main sheet portion.
 26. Theapparatus according to claim 19 wherein the annular securing membercomprises an elastic member arranged to be extended over the table topand arranged to be biased into a retaining position having acircumference which is less than a circumference of the table top. 27.The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the main sheet portion andthe skirt portion are formed integrally with one another of a continuousflexible sheeted material.
 28. (canceled)